KATHMANDU: Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka paid a courtesy call on the State Minister of Health and Population Umesh Shrestha at the Ministry of Health and Population in Ramshahpath Wednesday.
Ambassador Kikuta congratulated Minister Shrestha for his appointment and discussed the donation of 1.6 million doses of the Japanese-made COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine to Nepal through the COVAX facility.
The vaccine will arrive in Nepal on August 7 and 8.
On the occasion, Ambassador Kikuta expressed his hope for the smooth implementation of the vaccination campaign.
The Embassy of Japan is currently coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal to this effect.
Ambassador Kikuta informed the Minister of Japan’s multiple approaches to fight against COVID-19, mentioning, among others, that Japan took a leading role to establish the COVAX facility and pledged 1,000 million USD in total, and that Japan has been supporting Nepali hospitals under this difficult situation by the medical equipment assistance and made-in-Japan ambulances will come in autumn.
Likewise, he also pointed out that Japan has contributed to UNICEF for the cold-chain facility to ensure that the vaccine would reach down as “Last One Mile Support,” which will be beneficial for all Nepali people.
Ambassador Kikuta shared the view with Minister Shrestha that Japan and Nepal will strengthen the great partnership by their people, as shown in the long history of friendship between our two countries.
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